Joshua persisted in faith until all Canaanite resistance was subdued.
Joshua 11:18 reads: “Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings.” (v.18). Here we are given a brief yet impactful statement about Joshua’s prolonged military campaign during the conquest of Canaan. Joshua, who took over leadership after Moses (c. 1406 BC, following the death of Moses), did not merely defeat one or two foes; instead, he waged war a long time (v.18) against multiple Canaanite kings. This reference to many kings emphasizes the significant resistance Joshua and the Israelites faced. It underscores how victory was not immediate, but rather required sustained perseverance, strategy, and faith. Throughout the Book of Joshua, we see that the promised land was not simply handed to the Israelites; they had to overcome numerous obstacles with God’s help. This persistent pursuit of God’s promise echoes later themes in Scripture, where believers are encouraged to endure patiently (Hebrews 10:36), trusting that the Lord is faithful to fulfill His word.
Geographically, these kings ruled city-states spread across the region known in ancient times as Canaan. Canaan encompassed territories that today correspond to parts of modern-day Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and southern portions of Syria and Lebanon. The land presented varying landscapes, including coastal plains, hill countries, and valleys, each requiring different battle tactics. That Joshua waged war a long time (v.18) also suggests the complexity of conquering such diverse territories. It was not a quick or easy campaign but a systematic and God-led process. In other portions of Scripture, we see Israel’s faith tested within these same geographical boundaries—places that would one day house centuries of biblical history, culminating in the ministry of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:12-17).
Joshua himself, as the successor of Moses (who led the Exodus out of Egypt in around 1446 BC), stands as a transitional figure between the generation of wandering in the wilderness and the generation experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promise. He leads the people into the Promised Land around 1406 BC, following forty years in the wilderness, showing how God’s promises come to fruition through faithful obedience over time. The notion that Joshua waged war a long time (v.18) can also point us forward to the spiritual battles believers face, where perseverance in trusting God, just like Joshua’s, is paramount (Ephesians 6:10-13). Each challenge encountered by Joshua and his people offers a foreshadowing of the ultimate rest God provides—a rest that the New Testament connects to Jesus, our perfect deliverer (Hebrews 4:8-9).
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Joshua 11:18 meaning
Joshua 11:18 reads: “Joshua waged war a long time with all these kings.” (v.18). Here we are given a brief yet impactful statement about Joshua’s prolonged military campaign during the conquest of Canaan. Joshua, who took over leadership after Moses (c. 1406 BC, following the death of Moses), did not merely defeat one or two foes; instead, he waged war a long time (v.18) against multiple Canaanite kings. This reference to many kings emphasizes the significant resistance Joshua and the Israelites faced. It underscores how victory was not immediate, but rather required sustained perseverance, strategy, and faith. Throughout the Book of Joshua, we see that the promised land was not simply handed to the Israelites; they had to overcome numerous obstacles with God’s help. This persistent pursuit of God’s promise echoes later themes in Scripture, where believers are encouraged to endure patiently (Hebrews 10:36), trusting that the Lord is faithful to fulfill His word.
Geographically, these kings ruled city-states spread across the region known in ancient times as Canaan. Canaan encompassed territories that today correspond to parts of modern-day Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and southern portions of Syria and Lebanon. The land presented varying landscapes, including coastal plains, hill countries, and valleys, each requiring different battle tactics. That Joshua waged war a long time (v.18) also suggests the complexity of conquering such diverse territories. It was not a quick or easy campaign but a systematic and God-led process. In other portions of Scripture, we see Israel’s faith tested within these same geographical boundaries—places that would one day house centuries of biblical history, culminating in the ministry of Jesus Christ (Matthew 4:12-17).
Joshua himself, as the successor of Moses (who led the Exodus out of Egypt in around 1446 BC), stands as a transitional figure between the generation of wandering in the wilderness and the generation experiencing the fulfillment of God’s promise. He leads the people into the Promised Land around 1406 BC, following forty years in the wilderness, showing how God’s promises come to fruition through faithful obedience over time. The notion that Joshua waged war a long time (v.18) can also point us forward to the spiritual battles believers face, where perseverance in trusting God, just like Joshua’s, is paramount (Ephesians 6:10-13). Each challenge encountered by Joshua and his people offers a foreshadowing of the ultimate rest God provides—a rest that the New Testament connects to Jesus, our perfect deliverer (Hebrews 4:8-9).